Meghalaya Offers Free Power, Fuel, Mobile Perks to Retired Judges

SHILLONG: In a major decision, the Meghalaya Cabinet has given its nod to a proposal to grant a series of perks to retired Chief Justices and Judges of the state High Court.

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced this on Tuesday during a press conference after the Cabinet meeting. This is part of a larger policy initiative to recognize the service of the judiciary and consolidate various administrative structures within the state.

Among the benefits cleared, retired judges will now get free electricity up to 1,000 units per month. Also, there will be a monthly mobile recharge allowance of ₹4,200 along with applicable taxes, as well as 100 litres of petrol every month.

All these facilities come under the recently revised Retired Judges' Secretarial Assistant and Domestic Help Rules, 2013, marking an official improvement in post-retirement benefits for judiciary members.

In another significant decision, the Cabinet has endorsed amendments to the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005. The amendments now officially recognize Khasi and Garo as associate official languages for district-level exams. This action is viewed as a step further towards promoting greater inclusivity and regional representation in the state's administrative and recruitment procedures.

The session also witnessed the implementation of new acts in accordance with the Meghalaya Witness Protection Scheme, 2025, that will help protect witnesses engaged in criminal proceedings.

The Chief Minister emphasized how critical this step is, explaining that a sound and comprehensive framework is being designed to guarantee witnesses' security and safety as required by new criminal laws. This step is supposed to enhance the efficiency of the criminal justice system by making more people report information without fear of retribution.

Besides, the Cabinet also declared the appointment of retired Chief Secretary P.S. Thangkhiew as the Chairman of the newly established Meghalaya Farmers' Empowerment Commission. The commission will be responsible for framing agricultural policies and helping in the welfare of the farming community in the state.

Finally, in an effort to enhance transparency and accountability, the Cabinet has constituted a search committee for the appointment of a Lokayukta. The committee will be led by former bureaucrat P.S. Dkhar and will be responsible for shortlisting appropriate candidates for this significant anti-corruption position.

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